Best Hiking Trails in Joshua Tree National Park

Seasonal Popularity

Overview

Though Joshua Tree might seem like a vast desert of only rocks and strange trees, don't be fooled; it's teeming with life. Species have adapted the ability to survive both the inferno of peak summer, as well as frozen winter nights amazingly well. Explore desert nature and the Joshua tree “forests” (modify your thinking of what a traditional forest looks like!) while hiking or climbing in this world class rock climbing destination.

Getting Started

Only a few hours or less from both Los Angeles and San Diego, Joshua Tree is pretty accessible to those with a car. Alternately, get yourself to the town of Twentynine Palms and hop on the free shuttle bus into and around the park.

Wanna climb? Just peruse this link and you'll have plenty of schools and guides to choose from, or info on routes you're already a climber. There's even a meeting with a climbing ranger called Climbers Coffee.

When to Go

March to May are the best times to visit, with daytime and nighttime temperatures more moderate. If you enjoy baking in the hot sun of the summer, just remember to take proper steps to staying well hydrated. Winter days are also pleasant, though nighttime temperatures often drop below freezing.

Permits

Dog Info

Like most national parks, Joshua Tree only allows pets on a leash no longer than 6 feet in length, and never on any trails or in the backcountry. As the website suggests, anywhere you can drive your car, you can walk your pet. Want to go further afield? Leave Fido at one of the kennels in the area. Get details on pets at Joshua Tree, here.

First part of the hike coming in from Juniper flats is on a good well defined trail. I then took the side road just past mile marker 23. Trail disappeared in a small canyon at the foot of the mountain. From there it was a scramble pretty much straight up. Luckily it wasn’t too hard. The top was VERY windy and didn’t find the register or the survey marker. Went down the Northeast side following a trail which then disappeared about half way down. This meant more bushwhacking. Again not too difficult but not pleasant either. Got myself back to where the road ended and was back on trail again. About 12 miles in total. View form the top is spectacular and worth it but the trail is not great and very hard to find. Expect some bushwhacking.

A nice walk through scenic JTree granite boulder formations. Nice views and a good mix of up and down without a lot of elevation. And there were only a few other hikers! (Big difference from the day before at Hidden Valley!)